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WHAT: As Halloween approaches, the spooky and not-so-spooky events at Central Florida theme parks begin to fade. Here's a wrap-up of what's left in the bag. •SeaWorld Orlando: The park's Spooktacular, a gentle trick-or-treat affair, runs Saturday and Sunday from noon to 8 p.m. It's included in regular admission (seaworldorlando.com). •Legoland Florida: Brick-or-Treat includes costume contests, a scavenger hunt, trick-or-treating and Lego-building exercises. The final days are Saturday and Sunday. Park hours are 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Sunday. The event is included in regular Legoland admission. (legoland.com). •Universal Studios:...

Universal Orlando has rolled out a new deal that gives parkgoers three days for the price of two that's good until next summer.
The deal is aimed toward visitors to the park who will take advantage of three visits in one vacation, with all three...

After years as a perennial also-ran, Six Flags Magic Mountain's Fright Fest has emerged as a worthy contender for Southern California Halloween supremacy.The annual Halloween event at the Valencia amusement park has invested heavily the last few seasons...

Universal Orlando has again dreamed up an array of haunted houses to spook visitors to its Halloween Horror Nights event. The creators use our senses against us, from darkened corners to the roar of chainsaws, with a pinch of dirty diapers to add to the...

Love it, or hate it? Halloween, of course. The good news is that you aren't limited to one crazy day of last-minute costume fixes (weren't you sure you bought that witch wig?) and runs to the market for more candy. (How many more trick-or-treaters can...

Each year, in some cases beginning as early as in September, Florida can be frightfully fun -- during a variety of Halloween fests taking place at various popular destinations throughout the state. Some festivities are family-friendly; others for mature...

For the past few years, as part of the countdown to Universal's Halloween Horror Nights, we've asked Michael Aiello, director of entertainment - creative development for Universal Orlando, to describe each of the event's haunted houses in two words....

Scare zones will be back on the streets of Universal's Halloween Horror Nights tonight after a two-year absence.
Event planners had strayed from the dedicated, elaborately themed outdoor spaces populated by costumed "scare actors."
"You...

Leftovers from this week's grand opening of Universal's Cabana Bay Beach resort hotel:
•Ten shuttle buses run between the hotel and theme parks, and they're painted to resemble woody station wagons. (From a few angles, you can see a surfboard painted...

As part of a multi-year Fright Fest expansion, Six Flags Magic Mountain will add more monsters, better mazes and additional nights to the annual Halloween event.
In hopes of keeping up with the twin beasts of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal...

Universal's grand opening of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter — Diagon Alley is behind us. So, what's next on the calendar of events for Central Florida theme parks and attractions? Here's what's coming for August and September.
•The "Gone With...

I try to remember not to mock people who get sentimental about theme parks. I try to be understanding when there is weeping about the closing of a ride, anger when a menu changes or Twitter hysteria after another rumor surfaces.
Who am I to judge? I'm...

They say celebrity deaths come in threes, so perhaps it's appropriate that "The Walking Dead" is coming back for round 3 of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios.
The zombie-driven TV drama, which appears on AMC, will be featured...

Universal Studios will sink its teeth into the upcoming movie "Dracual Untold" at the 2014 edition of Halloween Horror Nights.
The theme park announced Thursday that the movie, which debuts Oct. 17, will be the basis for a haunted house at...

If you've stared at the new rendering for Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter -- Diagon Alley, you probably noted a dragon, a fire-breathing one, perched atop what looks like the Gringbotts Wizarding Bank, high above the tourists visiting the...

The zombies of "The Walking Dead" will play a larger role at this year's Halloween Horror Nights, Universal Studios executives say.
In addition to a haunted house themed to the AMC drama, all of Horror Nights' outdoor scare zones will be...

Halloween Horror Nights fans may howl at the latest news: A haunted house at this year's event will be based on the 1981 film "An American Werewolf in London," Universal Orlando announced early this morning.
The attraction is being created with...

Universal Studios has announced its final haunted-house theme for Halloween Horror Nights 2013, and it will be based on the Resident Evil video-game series.
In Resident Evil: Escape from Raccoon City, HHN guests will encounter Lickers, Hunters and the...

There's nothing theme parks like better than slowly rolling out their Halloween news. Universal has been taking the slow approach to build up anticipation for Halloween Horror Nights having announced three of what is usually six or seven haunted houses....